The New York State Education Department (NYSED) released 42 pages of new guidance for public schools Monday that includes a section about keeping children’s gender transitions a secret from parents in some cases.
The report, titled “Creating a Safe, Supportive, and Affirming School Environment for Transgender and Gender Expansive Students,” maintained that a student’s gender identity should be based on the student’s own assertion and that administrators should keep such information from families if they deem it necessary.
“School personnel’s acceptance of a student’s asserted gender identity should require no more than a statement from the student expressing their preference,” the guidance says.
According to Fox News, “Schools do not need to require permission, letters from professionals, or other proof of gender identity.” The guidance also said the student “is in charge of their gender transition and the school’s role is to provide support.”
If a student formally requests to transition at school, the guidance advises a school administrator or other “trusted adult, preferably trained in supporting LGBTQ and Gender Expansive students,” to meet with the student to determine if the student is comfortable coming out.
“Some [transgender and gender expansive] students have not talked to their families about their gender identity because of safety concerns or lack of acceptance and may begin their transition at school without parent/guardian knowledge,” the guidance notes.
The guidance said the “paramount consideration” in such situations is to protect the health and safety of the student, as well as “assuring that the student’s gender identity is affirmed and that their privacy and confidentiality are safely maintained.”
“These situations should be addressed on a case-by-case basis, accounting for the student’s age and maturity. Prematurely disclosing a student’s gender identity can have severe consequences for the student,” the guidance says.
